Awards

Promote Excellence

The primary purpose of the RSUA Design Awards is to promote excellence in the design of our built environment with a view to making Northern Ireland a better place for everyone.

Queen’s Business School Student Hub named Northern Ireland’s building of the Year 2025

May 9, 2025

The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) has awarded the Liam McCormick Prize for Northern Ireland’s Building of the Year to the new Qu...(read more)

Awards

2025 Winners

One Elmwood by Hawkins\Brown and RPP Architects

New Gate Arts & Culture Centre by McGurk Architects

Light House by McGonigle McGrath

Silver Bark House by Marshall McCann

Student Hub, Queen’s Business School by TODD Architects

Previous Winners

Our Aims

Improve Quality

Encourage architects to constantly strive to improve the quality of the built environment in Northern Ireland.

Positive Impact

Showcase the positive impact of design excellence on society in Northern Ireland including its critical role in making NI a more attractive place for citizens, tourists, investors etc.

Reward Architects

Reward architects, clients and all involved in the building process who aspire to, and succeed in, delivering excellence in design.

Showcasing Talent

Demonstrate the talent of Northern Irish architects and provide a platform to showcase their successes beyond this region.

Impact of Architecture

Highlight the breadth and depth of the impact of architecture on the lives of the people of Northern Ireland.

Background

The Awards have been running since 1998 and they are recognised as the leading architecture awards in Northern Ireland. The gala evening is the premier event in the calendar for everyone involved in the design of the built environment.

RSUA / RIBA

Our partnership with RIBA means that RSUA Awards will double up as the RIBA Northern Ireland Awards. Winning an RSUA Award is the first step to being considered for a UK-wide RIBA Award.

Award Categories

Projects entered for the competition, regardless of project type or value, are considered for a headline RSUA Design Award.

Projects that win an RSUA Design Award are in the running to win the Liam McCormick Prize – Northern Ireland’s building of the year – and will be considered for a RIBA National Award. Judges may also give a range of discretionary awards.